Collectivization/Industrialization, 5 year plans 1928-1941/Show Trials and the Great Purges

All peasants were to work on collective farms which were called Kolkhoz (all land was pooled together)Party officials monitored their output and by 1932 62% of all peasants collectivized A Kulaks was a wealthier peasants who owned their own farms and they were killed or sent to Gulags in Siberia if they destroyed their farms instead pf giving them to the Government they were seen as a threat to collectivization due to their free enterprise ideals

The 5 year plan was a series of plans designed to increase industry and output it was based on a quota system which meant that economic planning was now forced This changed Russia's economy to a Command Economy (which meant a set target for production) First was part was from 1928 to 1933 and they set out to changes agricultural (collectivization), their main focus was on heavy industry The Second part was from1933 to 1937 and they realized that the quota was too severe and changed in 1934 because while they were making their weight quota they weren't making any thing of useMany party officials revolted against this and nominated a successor to Stalin Not wanting to be replace Stalin had him shot Which was the beginning of the Great Purges

Show Trials and the Great Purges

Stalin started to fear being overthrown or having a counter-revolution so he formed a secret police called the NKVD to remove all threats This meant old heroes of the revolution or anyone with popular support were seen as threats and charged with treason1 in 5 officers of the army executed and often put on trial “show trials” forced to admit they had done it (under duress)In the end they would go to Gulags and work until they died

Summary

Staling had many plans to better the USSR but in the end they failed. Because they failed and people were getting worried, and the fact Stalin didn't want to give up any power, Stalin became paranoid and put on these show trial and the Great Purges started. (and he killed a bunch of people)